Ghana and Scotland to cooperate on oil and gas development

Monday, 19 June 2017 06:52

The success of North Sea oil production could benefit Ghana. (Image Source: Berardo62/Flickr)With the Ghana Summit as a backdrop, the Scottish Oil and Gas Trade Mission will be in Accra next week to forge new links between Scottish businesses and Ghanaian partners

The mission leaders will seek to shore up local partnerships and access the Ghanaian market by linking up with Scottish oil and gas companies. With years of oil and gas expertise behind them, the Scottish mission leaders believe they are well-placed to do mutually beneficial business in oil and gas with the West African country. The drop in the oil price and uncertainty facing the British economy since the 2016 referendum resulted in a vote in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union has sharpened the focus of Scottish oil and gas players in terms of seeking new opportunities and partnerships.

Andrew Monaghan, Scottish international trade advisor for West Africa at Scottish Development International, said that sub-sectors, such as education and training, subsea engineering, electrical product distribution, well construction, remote communications and engineering services, will be represented with the Scottish delegation.

"With the cost in the North Sea now averaging $15 per barrel, Scotland holds the position of the most competitive oil and gas industries in the world," Monaghan said.

Creating opportunities for Ghanaian workers and businesses is also important, according to Monaghan.

"Awareness of the need to address local content and local participation issues is high," he said.